Newsmaker of the Week // Ryan Preece

When a golden opportunity happens in racing, it’s truly the gifted and talented who can maximize it.

That’s what Asphalt Modified driving standout Ryan Preece did last weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway.

First, on Friday, he went head to head with NASCAR Monster Energy Cup driver Ryan Newman in the NWMT Modified All Star race – and beat him.

Then, in the NWMT Modified race on Saturday, Preece was a contender for victory in the 100 lapper and wound up taking second.

But the best was yet to come. After getting a ride in Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series No. 20 for Loudon, Preece showed what he is made of.

At race’s end, Preece finished second to teammate Kyle Busch.

Talk about getting noticed!

Preece had labored the year before for the entire Xfinity season in marginal equipment. This time, in a good car, he shone brilliantly.

Whether this one start will lead to other races in the sponsor-driven world of NASCAR remains to be seen.

On this day, Ryan Preece proved to the racing world that he, as much as any other driver in the sport, belongs among the heaviest hitters.